Aurora Health Care©

Year-End Community Appeal

Family

There are many ways you can make a difference in a person's life. Your support of the Aurora Health Care Foundation allows you to choose what your gift supports - from cancer services, clinical research and behavioral health to cardiac care and pediatric services - you decide. Not only do you decide what your gift supports, but you can be confident that 100% of your gift goes directly to that program.

Please consider making a gift this year to save a life and make a difference in your community. On behalf of the Aurora Health Care Foundation, we wish you a wonderful holiday season, and a healthy and happy new year.

Choose from the following:

Visiting Nurses Association (VNA)

For more than 100 years, Aurora Visiting Nurse Association has been providing home health care with compassion, professionalism and clinical excellence. While the majority of our patients are adults, Aurora VNA served more than 1,000 pediatric patients last year–including Parker Muche.

In February 2010, Jenny Muche gave birth to premature twin boys–Ashton and Parker. They were about 10 weeks early. Shortly after birth, Ashton needed to be resuscitated. Parker needed to be on a respirator for his first 10 days of life. Having two premature infants with serious medical needs and 3-year-old Owen at home, it was a difficult time for Jenny and her husband, Josh.

Ashton came home after five weeks in the hospital, but Parker stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more than five months. It was a stressful and exhausting time for the Horicon couple, who divided their time between caring for the two boys at home and staying with Parker in the hospital in Milwaukee. When it came time to bring Parker home in July 2010, Aurora VNA was an invaluable partner in the process.

"You can only imagine how hard it is to split your time between your children. It was a huge relief to be able to bring our baby home. Our family could finally be together and we no longer faced those long drives to the hospital," said Jenny. "When we were finally able to bring Parker home, the Aurora VNA made the transition so smooth and easy. They coordinated the delivery of oxygen tanks, the converter and the feeding pump. There was a nurse waiting to help us when we arrived home and she taught us how to use equipment that was crucial for our son. It couldn't have worked out any better."

For the Muche family, the feeding pump and ventilator are critical to Parker's daily care. The equipment and services provided to them through Aurora VNA have enabled Jenny and Josh to care for Parker in their home, keep their family together, and maintain the quality of life they desire. "Without the help of Aurora VNA, I don't know what we would have done," said Jenny.

Aurora VNA needs your help so that it can expand services to children in eastern Wisconsin through the purchase of 100 enteral feeding pumps, at $625 a piece, and 20 ventilators.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to the Aurora Visiting Nurse Associaton of Wisconsin to support its many valuable programs, including pediatric services and the expansion of access for more families who must have these life-sustaining resources for their children.

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Aurora VNA Zilber Family Hospice

"I walked in and the spirit, the teamwork - it was flawless, seamless. I knew hospice care was the best option for me." - Grace, patient who received end-of-life care before her passing in spring 2011.

Although home hospice is an ideal choice for many patients, it may not be an option for some. In cases where there is no caregiver, or the caregiver has become weary and fatigued, a hospice residence can be the answer. For Grace, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, living alone was no longer an option.

The Aurora VNA Zilber Family Hospice is a comfortable inpatient facility where compassionate care is delivered in a secure and home-like setting. The facility is designed specifically for the unique needs of hospice patients and their families. Large patient suites accommodate overnight stays for family or friends. The extended living spaces include lounges, a meditation room, library and solarium, in addition to outdoor patios and courtyards.

Grace's daughter found the right place at the right time. Grace spent the final four weeks of her life at the Zilber hospice, where she experienced exceptional care. Surrounded by family in this serene space made the difference for Grace and she often spoke about the importance of a place like the Aurora Zilber hospice. "All the benefits that I received, we cannot let that fade," she said, adding that loving care and comfort was provided to both her and her family. It enabled her final weeks to be calm, peaceful and dignified and provided the opportunity to share memories with her family that Grace wanted them to remember after she was gone.

Aurora VNA needs your help so that we may continue to provide compassionate care for adults and children in the tranquil atmosphere of the Aurora VNA Zilber Family Hospice.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift in support of the Aurora Zilber hospice to ensure that anyone, regardless of their financial situation, can receive end-of-life care in a beautiful, home-like setting.

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Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh

Timing is everything. And it helps to be in the right place for emergency medical care. Memorial Day 2011 started out as a leisurely vacation day for Pete and Cheryl Johnson. Residents of DeForest, near Madison, they spend every weekend of the summer in Oshkosh where they dock their boat. As they were packing up for the drive home, Pete suffered a massive heart attack and dropped over in the marina parking lot. While Cheryl began CPR on her husband, first responders arrived within minutes and transported him to the closest hospital–Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh.

Pete was brought into the emergency department and was quickly moved to the Cardiac Cath Lab. He spent four days in the ICU, including the first 48 hours on life support. Two weeks after his discharge, he walked back into the hospital to thank our caregivers for saving his life.

"This man is a walking miracle," said Paula Mathes, manager of emergency services. He survived the "widow maker," which refers to the abrupt and complete occlusion of the LAD (left anterior descending artery). It typically causes a massive heart attack that leads to sudden death.

While Pete doesn't remember the traumatic events of that Memorial Day or the days following it, he knows he received exceptional care. "When something this severe happens, you need to get your care right then, right now. They had what we needed. We're very lucky they had a Cath Lab at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh," said Pete. According to Cheryl, the caregivers provided comfort and compassion to the family during a stressful time while they were far from home. "They really listened to us and supported us through such a critical time. We are truly grateful," said Cheryl.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh. Support for your community hospital ensures that the best equipment, programs and services are available when you need them the most.

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Kradwell School

"Everyone deserves a chance to learn." - Babs Kihslinger

In 1999, Babs and her husband, Paul, adopted a young boy from Romania. John was almost four years old and, according to Babs, had been exposed to a horrid orphanage environment.

Now 15 years old, John experiences many issues that make relationships and learning very difficult. He struggled in public school settings over the years. Last year, his behavior and poor decision-making led his parents to seek out an alternative educational opportunity. Their search led them to Kradwell School.

Kradwell School offers the only program in Wisconsin tailored to kids like John. Our students have emotional, learning and behavioral disabilities that interfere with their ability to succeed in a traditional school environment. For the first time in his life, John is thriving both academically and socially at Kradwell.

"Kradwell has positively impacted our entire family. Stress can tear down even the most solid families and the negative environment for John was wearing us down. From difficulties with interpersonal relationships to struggles over homework, the school year presented us with overwhelming obstacles almost every day," explained Babs.

John had trouble making friends in public school. Being in a small, controlled setting at Kradwell has made all the difference. John attends school with a group of kids who understand and accept him for who he is. "Now in his second year at Kradwell, John has successfully made some real friends and is doing well academically," added Babs.

Our school provides an excellent alternative for children who struggle in traditional school settings, yet the ability to choose Kradwell presents a financial strain for many families. You can help these families in need and support the future success of our students. Make an investment today in a child's education through a gift to one of our scholarship funds.

Kradwell School creates the environment where disability is transformed into ability, which is the key to our students' success. Won't you join us in helping more children, like John, experience the joy in discovering that they are indeed capable of success? Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Aurora Family Service's Family-to-Family Thanksgiving

"It was a very good feeling to put a turkey dinner on my table. It was a good feeling that someone thought enough to care." - Ruth

For Ruth, and many others like her, the thought of not celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving meal was difficult to face. Unfortunately, it is a reality for many families in the greater Milwaukee area who've fallen on hard times.

Ruth had recently lost her home and had mounting financial problems. She was very distraught. At the suggestion of her social worker, Ruth reached out to a financial counselor at Aurora Family Service. The counselor provided assistance to Ruth in a time of dire need and also put her name on the list to receive a Thanksgiving meal.

"I felt despondent, but that particular year it sure made me feel grateful. It made a great big difference in my life that I was able to provide a Thanksgiving meal to my family." - Ruth

Aurora Family Service started its Family-to-Family Thanksgiving 16 years ago. Since then, support from generous friends and neighbors like you has enabled us to feed more than 46,000 families – for a total of 184,000 individuals - who would not otherwise be able to celebrate this important holiday tradition.

With the economy continuing to be unstable and more families struggling to make ends meet, holiday traditions become even more important. Can you imagine your loved ones having to go without this holiday meal on a day that's dedicated to celebrating the gift of family and friends? A $35 donation provides one family with a complete set of groceries–a 12-pound turkey, foil roasting pan, bread, butter, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and fruit–to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home.

Each year, more families need our help. Please consider supporting this year's event and help us reach our goal of providing a Thanksgiving meal to 3,000 families throughout Milwaukee.

Your support helps families, like Ruth's and others, who cannot afford to purchase groceries to prepare their holiday meal. Please consider a gift of $35, $105 or even $250 in support of our Family-to-Family Thanksgiving. Your gift will help build a bridge for us to help families help each other. Thank you for your consideration and support of Aurora Family Service.

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Aurora Lakeland Medical Center

When every minute counts, you want emergency medical care from professionals you can trust. In Bob Jambor's case, Aurora Lakeland Medical Center is the first choice for all of his health care needs. And it's where he, with his wife Terri, sought help one morning in September.

On that day, Bob felt significant discomfort in his chest and left arm that quickly went away. It was the third time in the recent past that he experienced such symptoms. He recognized the warning signs and knew he needed to get to the emergency department at Aurora Lakeland, where over the past three years he had received emergency care when he experienced atrial fibrillation.

At Aurora Lakeland's emergency department, the admitting clerk and nurse started an immediate consultation and triage. "They were just fantastic. As busy as the emergency department was that day, the staff promptly evaluated my condition, got my cardiologist involved and kept me updated on what was going on. They explained everything they were doing, or going to do, made me comfortable and put my wife and me at ease," said Bob. "I felt confident in the care provided at Aurora Lakeland. I also knew that if I needed extensive cardiac care services, the path would lead to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center," explained Bob.

Soon after arriving at Aurora Lakeland, it was determined Bob needed that extensive cardiac care. He was ultimately transported by ambulance to Aurora St. Luke's, where he later received an angiogram and stent procedure.

Many patients, like Bob, benefit from Aurora's integrated health care system. A loyal patient of Aurora Lakeland, he trusts that the staff will make sure he receives the best care every time.

While Aurora Lakeland delivers the highest quality of patient care possible, we also focus on your unique needs as a patient and a family and respond accordingly. "I'm extremely pleased with the attention, quality of care, and concern for my well-being, and the concern and reassurances expressed to my wife, Terri" said Bob.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to Aurora Lakeland Medical Center. Support for your community hospital ensures that the best equipment, programs and services are available when you need them the most.

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Aurora Memorial Hospital in Burlington

What started out as a leisurely day of golf turned into a life-threatening situation for Burlington resident, Dave Roegner. It was August 28, 2010, when Dave suffered a massive heart attack. From the furthest part of the golf course, his friends called 911 and then transported him in their golf cart back to the clubhouse. First responders were waiting and ready to take Dave to Aurora Memorial Hospital in Burlington.

While the ambulance was en route to the hospital, paramedics transmitted his vital signs back to the emergency department, so the doctor on staff could assess the situation. From the golf course to emergency department, Dave's heart stopped three times. "I was in a daze, but I recognized what was happening. I saw the paddles coming down on me. I felt the shock in my chest," said Dave. "My life was saved going to the emergency department. I'm here on this earth because of the dedicated medical team in Burlington," he said.

Soon after arriving at the Aurora Burlington hospital, it was determined he needed more sophisticated cardiac care treatment and Dave was transported by a medical helicopter to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center. Many patients, like Dave, benefit from Aurora's integrated health care system. A resident of Burlington for more than 50 years, he trusts that staff here will make sure he receives the best care every time.

While Aurora Memorial Hospital in Burlington delivers the highest quality of patient care possible, we also focus on your unique needs as a patient and a family and respond accordingly. "I'm so grateful for the emergency services provided in Burlington," said Dave.

With more than 14,000 patients served in the emergency department this year, support for these front-line services is vital if we are to help save lives.

"It's good for the future, it's good for the community," said Dave.

This holiday season, please make a gift in support of Aurora Memorial Hospital in Burlington. Support for your community hospital ensures that the best equipment, programs and services are available when you need them the most.

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Aurora Medical Center in Grafton

When time lost is muscle lost, it is reassuring to know that exceptional cardiac care is just moments away. Randy Hendrikse and his family know what that means through a firsthand experience.

In April 2011, Randy was feeling run down, and attributed it to "paying his dues" for being a smoker, although he had recently quit. After working all morning, Randy felt exhausted and was complaining of tightness in his chest. Soon after, Randy was in cardiac arrest. While Randy's wife started CPR, their son called 911 and Randy was taken to the nearest hospital. Once Randy was stabilized, he was transported by Flight For Life to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton to receive extensive cardiac care treatment.

Aurora Medical Center in Grafton is a state-of-the-art facility which includes a medical office building offering clinical services and physician specialists delivering premier patient care. Our cardiology department provides regional tertiary services and offers 24/7 full cardiac services for emergency procedures and the latest technology in diagnostic and treatment options. We offer the full continuum of care–from outpatient, to inpatient, cardiopulmonary rehab and home health services. Our medical center's coordinated cardiac service is backed by nationally recognized experts of Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.

While Aurora Medical Center in Grafton delivers the highest quality of patient care possible, we also focus on your unique needs as a patient and a family, with services and an environment designed for healing, confidence and comfort. "We basically lived there. Even though the ICU was down the hall, we stayed in a large, private space that felt like a suite. We felt like we could take a break. This space allowed us to relax and get the rest we needed," explained Kate, Randy's wife. "Since we were a distance from our home, it made a huge difference."

With ICU open access visiting hours, family members and friends were able to be with Kate whenever needed, praying for Randy's recovery. "I was told 95 percent of patients don't survive what happened to me. It was an amazing experience. I feel blessed," expressed Randy. "I can't say enough about Aurora Medical Center in Grafton – what a facility, what a staff."

We have made a difference in the lives of the Hendrikse family. Are you ready to help make a difference in the lives of others? Please consider a charitable gift to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton. Your gift will contribute to exceptional patient care with the best possible outcomes. You can help us change lives and save lives in our community and beyond. We thank you for your thoughtful consideration and support.

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Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha

Lung cancer does not discriminate by age or gender. Yet it was the startling discovery for a young newlywed couple beginning their life together to be told of a diagnosis of lung cancer.

Kathie was rushed into the emergency department at Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha with severe pain throughout her body. After a biopsy was performed, the 23-year-old learned of her cancer diagnosis and the treatment that would be needed. While both Kathie and Steve had full-time jobs, Kathie had minimal health insurance coverage and Steve was uninsured.

When the young couple met with a financial counselor, they learned about Aurora's Helping Hand program. We can only imagine their relief when they learned that Kathie qualified for a 100 percent discount for the care and treatment she would need. Since 1999, the Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha has been meeting growing patient needs in the greater Kenosha community. Our hospital delivers patient-centered care in a quiet comfortable healing environment. Here, we take a holistic approach to meeting the needs of body, mind and spirit, with family, friends and loved ones playing vital roles in a patient's healing process. Our caregivers work together to provide the best patient experience for each individual, like Kathie, who is entrusted to our care. Designated as an Outstanding Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer, our program was honored as one of the top 10 percent in the nation. In addition, our breast cancer program has earned accreditation for its quality, care and outcomes.

On our campus, we provide surgical, medical and radiation oncology treatments with specialists who perform minimally invasive lung surgery and gynecological oncology here in Kenosha. Nurse navigators also help guide patients through the diagnosis and treatment process as an advocate every step of the way. We also focus on survivorship with patient education shared by our dietitians, social workers and financial counselors to help a person handle the many issues that arise with a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.

Are you ready to make a difference? Please make a gift to support Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha. With your gift we will continue to meet the needs of everyone in our community by providing exceptional life-saving and life-sustaining services in a serene and healing environment.

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Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc County

When your child gets sick, you want to have total confidence their needs are being met quickly and effectively. From infancy through adolescence, parents are grateful for the pediatric services provided through our Aurora outpatient clinics in collaboration with Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc County.

For young parents and the most seasoned parents, no question or concern is too trivial. According to one new mom, a certain comfort level is necessary. "The doctors are easy to talk to and, most importantly, they listen. I appreciate that we have outstanding pediatric care right here in our small town," said Amanda, mother of two.

"Our family was hit hard by the flu. The older two children were very dehydrated. Our doctor immediately made the correct assessment, coordinated all our services in the clinic–and given how sick of all us were, I was grateful to have everything handled under one roof," explained Jody, mother of four.

What makes the difference for these parents? "First and foremost, it's the proactive approach–there is no 'wait and see' for this team of caregivers. The doctors take the time to ask a lot of questions and get detailed information that makes the diagnosis and treatment a comforting experience," said Jody.

When Jody needed to arrange a hospital stay for her newborn, the transfer from the clinic to the hospital was seamless. "The hospital was very family-friendly. They created a peaceful and secure environment for us," she added.

Whether at our clinics or at Aurora Medical Center, parents can rest assured that they are receiving quality, compassionate care for their children.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to support the pediatric services provided to children and families in Manitowoc County. With your support, our caregivers can help ensure every parent has that reassuring experience with their children. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Aurora Medical Center in Summit

Kurt Carloni has lived in Oconomowoc for decades. It's here that he and Sue, his wife of 36 years, raised two children in a community they love. Now, they have a community hospital they can call their own.

Faced with a recent health crisis, they are steadfast supporters of Aurora Medical Center in Summit. It wasn't long ago that Kurt and Sue considered this hospital an unnecessary addition at Interstate 94 and Highway 67. That changed in August 2011 when Kurt was diagnosed with brain cancer.

"From the minute we walked in the door, the care has been exceptional," said Kurt. The team includes neurosurgeons, oncologists and radiation experts. The nursing staff is caring, committed and professional. Within days of his diagnosis, Kurt had brain surgery. Doctors removed most of the tumor on the left side of his brain and he has undergone intensive radiation, then chemo treatments since September–all under one roof. "I'm very comfortable with the entire team," said Kurt. "They're here because they care about people. I'm a positive guy and I'm expecting good things all the way."

Many other good things are happening at Aurora Medical Center in Summit:

  • Best Cardiac Care: Did you know that Aurora St. Luke's cardiac care, the highest volume heart center in the Midwest, is available right here in Summit?
  • Advanced Cancer Treatments: Did you know that we have a Linear Accelerator that can pinpoint radiation for more accurate and less invasive exposure?
  • Trauma Care: Did you know that Level II trauma care means that if you are in an accident you will have some of the highest levels of care in the region including 24/7 trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons to take care of every injury you sustain?
  • Bariatric Surgery: Did you know combining surgery with nutrition, exercise and psychological support significantly increases the chance of weight loss success?
  • Research: Did you know Aurora Summit has the ability to offer patients enrollment in clinical trials and research protocols?
  • Robotic Technology: Did you know surgeons can use robotic assisted technology for certain heart, urology, gynecology, head and neck surgeries?

Are you ready to make a difference? Please make a gift to support medical advancements at Aurora Medical Center in Summit. With your gift we will continue to meet the needs of our community by providing exceptional life-saving and life-sustaining services in a serene and healing environment.

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Aurora Behavioral Health Services

The challenge of mental illness has a profound impact on many in our community. Its effects and impact are far reaching. For many patients, their daily lives are similar to ours–going to work, supporting a family, and dealing with life's ups and downs. For someone like Patrick, the regular stresses of life can lead to a personal crisis. In his case, Aurora Behavioral Health Services was his safety net.

"I recently had to admit myself to the Aurora Psychiatric Hospital for inpatient and subsequent partial hospital treatment. Between pressures of work, finances, and a death in my family, life had gotten the best of me. Fortunately, I was able to access the necessary resources to deal with my illness. The understanding, compassion, and genuine kindness I received from the caregivers at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life." – Patrick, grateful patient of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital

During these difficult economic times, the need for behavioral health services is on the rise. Aurora Health Care's commitment to behavioral health as a core component of its integrated care model sets it apart from other Wisconsin health care systems. Like other behavioral health providers in Milwaukee, Aurora is faced with the challenge of providing quality care to a growing volume of underserved patients while receiving limited reimbursement for services. The discrepancies between the costs to provide care and the reimbursement for services impact our ability to deliver quality, compassionate care to this increasing population. More than 55 percent of the patients who received treatment at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in 2010 were uninsured or underinsured.

A leader in the provision of behavioral health care for more than 127 years, Aurora Psychiatric Hospital serves as the hub of Aurora Behavioral Health Services, which extends its reach throughout the area with six outpatient clinics. In addition, our collaboration with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division allows Aurora Psychiatric Hospital to serve as an overflow facility for the county's emergency patients. This arrangement allows patients in psychiatric crisis to obtain immediate care on our campus, instead of waiting for critical care until the County's facility has the capacity to treat them.

Please consider making a gift in support of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital. Your gift strengthens our patients' ability to return to their families, friends, employers and communities with the skills and support needed to carry on healthy and productive lives. Please help us strengthen our safety net of behavioral health care so that Aurora Psychiatric Hospital can continue to strengthen our communities for generations to come. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center

"I have always known that Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center is a world-renowned hospital in Milwaukee, but I certainly never thought I'd put that fact to the test. The emergency department doctors literally saved my life." – Janet Romans

Janet Romans has a new lease on life, thanks to the skilled team of professionals at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center. Holiday shopping and entertaining took a back seat when Janet was rushed to the hospital on December 23, 2010.

Over several days prior to arriving at Aurora St. Luke's, Janet experienced symptoms that included an erratic heart rate, a sore and swollen right knee and calf pain. Severe chest pain with intense heat that spread to her extremities and a dead weight feeling caused her to slump over her desk in her home office. The terrible pain prompted a call to 911 and soon the ambulance arrived to transport her to the emergency department. It was there Janet learned she had a massive saddle pulmonary embolism. In layman's terms, she had massive blood clots in both lungs. Her husband, Jack, was informed that her chance of survival was 50/50.

After doctors removed approximately 80 percent of the clots, Janet was placed on a high dosage of IV Heparin–a blood-thinning drug. She spent the next several days recuperating in the Intensive Care Unit where, from that corner of the world, Janet saw life through a new lens.

"The caregivers were friendly, helpful, and responded to each challenge quickly, efficiently, and professionally. The complete environment ran like a well-oiled machine," she explained.

Janet's near-death experience made her profoundly thankful for the many blessings in her life: her husband, family, friends, and colleagues. "Not only did the physicians at Aurora St. Luke's save my life, but the wonderful caregivers there were pivotal in the days following my admission and in my recovery," she added.

"People drive by Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center on a daily basis," said Janet. "We all know it's there, but until it reaches out and enfolds you in its healing, caring arms, we can only be thankful to have this great hospital in our city."

This holiday season give the gift of life. Please consider making a gift to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center so that others, like Janet, can receive expert emergency and intensive care when they need it the most.

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Aurora St. Luke's South Shore

"They saved my life." – Ted Moss, grateful patient of Aurora St. Luke's South Shore

For Ted Moss, a visit to Aurora St. Luke's South Shore is like old home week. He grew up right across the street from the hospital and has been a patient here several times. But it was a fateful day in February 2011 that made him one of the most celebrated patients in recent history.

Trying to make his way home in the midst of a brutal snowstorm, Ted had to abandon his truck and walk the remaining two miles from Oak Creek to South Milwaukee. Lucky for him, his faithful dog, Buddy, was with him and the two braved the elements on their route home. Just a few blocks shy of his own doorstep, Ted collapsed in the snow in front of Divine Mercy Church.

Several hours had passed and neighbors recalled hearing faint barks outside in the storm. Eventually, one resident opened his door in the early morning hours to find Buddy barking near the street. The dog led him the half block to where Ted was face down and motionless in the frozen snow.

After Ted was taken by ambulance to the emergency department at Aurora St. Luke's South Shore, it was determined he spent more than five hours in the cold–long enough for his core body temperature to drop to an alarming 68 degrees.

"I know I almost died. I was told my heart stopped twice and it was 'touch and go,'" said Ted. It was the dedicated team in the emergency department, led by Dr. Bill Lieber, that made a difference. Ted spent eight days in a coma in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). While he doesn't have any memories of the snowstorm or walking home with Buddy, he does remember the care he received upon waking in the ICU.

Ted knows he escaped incredible odds and got a second chance at life. He credits everyone from the paramedics to the nurses who helped him each day on his road to recovery. "The care they give their patients is really something else. There are a lot of nice people here. It has a community hospital feel. The caregivers are attentive, responsive and they make sure you're comfortable," he said.

Nearly three months later, it was an emotional meeting with Dr. Lieber that reinforced Ted's admiration for the team that saved his life. "I'll never forget it. Dr. Lieber told me he was just doing his job that day in the emergency department," said Ted, who was moved by Dr. Lieber's kindness and humility.

This holiday season give the gift of life. Please consider making a gift to Aurora St. Luke's South Shore so that others, like Ted, can receive expert emergency and intensive care when they need it the most.

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Aurora Sinai Medical Center

Aurora Sinai Medical Center is responding to the need to reduce infant mortality in Milwaukee. With more than 3,000 deliveries at Aurora Sinai each year, nearly 20 percent of those babies are born pre-term–a fact that automatically places them at an increased risk for death before their first birthday. With statistics as alarming as this, our request for your support is not about grand plans for tomorrow, but rather solid plans for today. Are you ready to make a difference?

Aurora Sinai is at the epicenter of infant mortality. We serve the highest risk patients in the city. Our hospital has good outcomes due, in large part, to resources that include excellent doctors, our medical training program, and fetal mortality specialists on site. "We are working to make the community aware of the important need for prenatal care, but also the importance of receiving good medical care before pregnancy occurs," said Dr. Tina Mason, obstetrician and gynecologist at Aurora Sinai.

"The problem is two-fold: access to care and community education. Milwaukee is the most segregated city and the fourth poorest city in the United States. If we didn't have such a high incidence of poverty and substantial unemployment, we'd have better outcomes," explained Dr. Mason.

For families served by Aurora Sinai, they appreciate the exceptional prenatal services and intensive care in a crisis situation. Chantell Sain has three young children–all born at Aurora Sinai. Chantell experienced a high-risk pregnancy and pre-term delivery with her oldest child, Clarke, now six years old. Clarke was born prematurely and weighed only 2 pounds 10.5 ounces at birth. He spent one month in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Aurora Sinai and was closely monitored and cared for by skilled nurses and Chantell, who visited Aurora Sinai every day to be with him.

"I was very grateful to have access to a state-of-the-art hospital that provided the level of care Clarke needed. He was in good hands at Aurora Sinai," said Chantell.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to support the Neonatal Intensive Care services for those babies in critical need of the same high-level care Clarke received in his first weeks of life. With specialized training and equipment, our caregivers can best provide for premature newborns–our most vulnerable patients. Quite simply, we could not do it without you. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Aurora West Allis Medical Center

At Aurora Health Care, our purpose is to help people live well. It's not just a tagline. Our team of caregivers is committed to quality, compassionate patient care.

Aurora West Allis Medical Center hosts a Living Well Program that helps participants make lifestyle and behavior changes necessary to achieve and maintain their optimal health. The 12-month program benefits individuals diagnosed with pre-diabetes (elevated blood glucose levels), seeking weight reduction or weight management or wanting to decrease their cardiovascular risks.

Battling weight gain at such a young age was a warning sign for Samantha Rappa who, at 23, was put on high blood pressure medication. Exercising and crash diets were no longer working for this young woman. Her primary care doctor referred her to an endocrinologist, who diagnosed Samantha as pre-diabetic. She was on her way to having Type 2 diabetes.

"I made a decision that this was not going to happen to me and prepared myself to do what it takes to make sure I would have it under control," said Samantha. "My amazing endocrinologist referred me to Aurora's Living Well Program. This program truly saved my life."

For the first time, Samantha had a support system that allowed her to work with a dietician and a personal trainer on a weekly basis for the first three months. She learned about food, personal wellness, exercise and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. "The weight was coming off like crazy and by the end of the third month, I was training for my first triathlon," she added. Within one year, Samantha lost 32 pounds, completed a triathlon and has built and maintained a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise. Most importantly, she does not have Type 2 diabetes.

"As of today, I am no longer on any medication and I am the healthiest I've ever been. I didn't do it by crash diets or by burning myself out with too much exercise. I did it by making changes that I can take with me for the rest of my life," said Samantha. This experience has inspired her to return to school to pursue a second bachelor's degree in dietetics. She plans to be a health and wellness life coach, so that she, too, can help others live well.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift in support of women's health programs. Your support of this program will enable others, like Samantha, to maintain a healthy lifestyle now and in the future.

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Aurora West Allis Medical Center – Aurora Women's Pavillion

"I have wanted to be a mother since I was a young girl." – Katie Fetzer, ovarian cancer survivor

For Katie Fetzer, receiving a cancer diagnosis at the age of 22 was a shock. It was March 2006. Katie had just graduated from UW-Madison with an education degree. "I literally woke up one morning with pain in my abdomen and initially gave it a couple of days thinking the pain would go away," said Katie. Eventually Katie made an appointment with her internist who scheduled an ultrasound. "They found a mass on my left ovary and I was referred to Dr. Peter Johnson, a gynecologic oncologist, with the Aurora Women's Pavilion. I had Stage III-C ovarian cancer. I was scared," she said. Dr. Johnson performed the surgery to remove Katie's left ovary.

"Dr. Johnson recognized that I was a young woman who still wanted to have a family, so he removed the affected parts of my right ovary and preserved my fertility," explained Katie.

About six months after the initial surgery, Katie learned that her remaining ovary would have to be removed. Prior to that surgery, Dr. Johnson referred Katie to Dr. Mark Severino in the hopes that he might be able to preserve eggs from her remaining ovary. Her options were becoming more limited. If she wanted to experience pregnancy, Dr. Johnson recommended in vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertility treatments followed and after a second attempt at IVF, Katie became a mother this past spring.

"When I was dealt the blow of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I was terrified that my dream of becoming a mom might never become a reality. When I received the phone call that I was pregnant, I immediately burst into tears because something that I wanted for so long was finally happening," said Katie. Her son was born on April 13th. "It was love at first sight," said Katie, adding that she is constantly amazed at the advances in technology that contributed to her becoming a mom. "When it came time to name my son, I couldn't think of a better name than Peter. To me, the name represents incredible kindness, strength, and the importance of taking a chance on the unknown." The warm and caring environment at the Aurora Women's Pavilion is unique. When women are given difficult news about their health or the health of their unborn baby, they are in such a vulnerable position. At the Aurora Women's Pavilion, women like Katie are welcomed by doctors and staff with the utmost in clinical expertise and a supportive environment.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift in support of the Aurora Women's Pavilion at Aurora West Allis Medical Center. Your support of programs and services that address women's health issues will enable others, like Katie, to experience exceptional care and positive outcomes. Opportunities for giving include support for the birthing center, women's oncology care, and our greatest needs fund.

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Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center

Casey Schmidt made her debut a little earlier than expected. She arrived prematurely on March 16, 2011–about six weeks before her due date.

Our community is very well-served by the wonderful Level I newborn unit at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, which meets the basic needs of healthy, full-term babies. Premature babies, like Casey, currently have to be transferred to one of several hospitals in eastern Wisconsin that are equipped with a Level II B Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In this type of nursery, babies who are born prematurely–primarily between four to eight weeks early–receive care that can only be provided with the specialized equipment that is available in a Level II B NICU.

Aurora Sheboygan is asking for your support, so we can provide the services needed for babies, like Casey, and avoid having to transfer them to another hospital in another community. Your support for a Level II B NICU will enable us to provide an enhanced level of care that will include an in-house nurse practitioner and respiratory stability and management through state-of-the-art equipment and caregiver expertise.

The experience of Casey and her family illustrates how much better the experience can be with the addition of the higher level of newborn care in our hospital. "We drove home every night from Milwaukee. The trip back and forth was 50 miles each way," said Robert. "It would have made the situation so much easier if we didn't have to spend three hours in the car each day to see our baby." After six days in the NICU, her grateful parents–Robert and Gladies–brought Casey home.

By enhancing this level of care in the community, we will be better prepared to serve both mother and baby locally. This will diminish the inconvenience and added stress for parents as their newborn is placed in an ambulance and transferred many miles from home. Then there is the daily grind of traveling long distances to another facility, where their baby is receiving care.

This holiday season, please consider making a gift to support the Level II B NICU services for those babies in critical need of the same high-level care Casey received in her first week of life. With specialized training and equipment, our caregivers can best provide for premature newborns–our most vulnerable patients. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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